US1741634A - Tread measuring and cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

Deb-[31 192 9. K g I 1,741,634

TREAD MEASURING AND 'QUTTING MACHINE Filed May 3, 1926 4 Sheets-Shet 1 I :E E5 I :l E

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Dec. 31, 1929.

A. R. KRAUSE Filed May 5, 1926 TREAD MEASURING AND CUTTI NG MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 31, 1929. A. R. KRAUSE 1,741,634

TREAD KEASURING AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed May '3, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec, 31, 1929. A. KRAusE 1,741,534

TREAD MEASURING AND CUTTING CHINE Filed May 3, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 59 i31 HJ 59 55 k Z7 i u m M 24 m n m? m Patented Dec. 31, 1929 LINE-TED STATES PATENT QFFIQE ASSIGNOR T GILLETTE RUBBER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WISGOIISZN,

TREAD MEASURING AND CUTTING MACHINE Application filed May 3, 1926.

This invention relates to measuring and severing apparatus adapted to cut predetermined lengths of stock from a continuous length of material.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved automatic measuring and cutting mechanism for severing predetermined lengths of material from long lengths of stock.

It is another object of this invention to provide a measuring wheel adapted: to receive materialin continuous lengths and having intermittently operating cutting means mounted. in fixed relationshipto the Wheel to rotate therewith and cut the material to predetermine d lengths.

A further object of this invention is to pro vide animproved machine for cutting adjustable lengths of stock from continuous or long lengths of material.

Another object of this invention is'to-provide a measuringwheel built up of. radially adjustable segments together with intermittently operating press fingers adapted to pre- Vent slipping of the material over said segments.

Still another object of this invention is to provide in a device of the class described an automatic control operating over a limited range together with a manual control adapted to vary the automatic control range.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

This invention (in a preferred form) is il lustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

0n the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the features'of this invention in operating position to cut off a-length ofstock;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of-Figure 1 taken from the stock feeding side Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevation of the device showing the driving mechanism and automatic: speed control therefor;

A F ig. 4: is a fragmentary. section showing the drivingmechanismtakenon the line IV -11V of Figure 2;

Serial No. 186,358.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged plan-view of the reduction gearing and variable speed friction drivetaken on the line VV of Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectionv on the line VI-VI of Figure 4 showing the manual control of the variable speed, range Fig. 7 is a section on the line VIIVI-I of Figure 2 showingthe switch mechanism associatedwith the speed controlling pulley;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevation with parts omittedto show the traversing mecha nism for the tread cutting element;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX IX 01 Figure 8;

Fig. 10 isa detail of the cam operating the cutter traversing mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a front. elevation of the cutter mounting and the driving mechanism therefor; and

Fig. 12 is a detail section showing oneadjustable measuring wheel segment together with the clamping lever associated therewith.

As shown on the drawings:

The present invention provides an automatically speed controlled measuring and cutting mechanism adapted to cut off exact lengths of stock 15 from a continuous length as manufactured. l/Vhile the device of this invention is especially adapted, becauseof its variable speed control, to the continuous measurement and cutting of lengths of stock as a part of theprocessof manufacture; it is equally adapted to cut stock fed from reels and the like, in which case an automatically varying speed control is a desirable but not an essential element. The specific embodiment of this invention chosen for illustration comprises. a unitary self-contained mechanism mounted on a post pedestal 16, a bracket 17 formingthe support for the device proper and being securedto the post by a suitable collar 18 forn'ied as part of the support...

A main shaft 19 is journaled' in the bracket 17 and is driven by the motor 20 which drives a shaft 21 carrying a friction wheel 22engaging a frictiondisc 23 on a shaft 23 leading to a double reduction gear box 24 and thence to the main shaft by the gears 25' and26- as ing the segments 47 as desired.

most clearly shown in Figure 5. The drive from the motor 20 to the shaft 21 includes the gears 27 and 28, gear 27 engaging the motor shaft by means of a clutch 29 operated by a lever 30 pivoted at 31. The opposite end of this lever carries a link 32 having a lost motion connection to a )iil 33 on the crank 34, the pin 33 also acting on a pivoted lever the other end of which acts to shift the friction wheel 22 across the face of the friction disc 23 to give varying speed ratios. It will be evident from the above that within the range permitted by the lost motion connection to the crank 34 and pin 33 act as a speed control; while when the lost motion is taken up to the left in Figure 3 the link 32 serves to throw out the clutch and therefore stop the mechanism. The fulcrum 36 for the lever 35 is mounted on a threaded shaft 37, the pivot sliding in a slot in the plate 38, a hand wheel 39, serving to rotate the threaded shaft to shift the fulcrum 36 to vary the automatic speed control range. To provide for manual control from the other side of the machine a shaft 40 is connected to the shaft 37 by the chain 41 and a second handwheel 39 is mounted on the free end of the shaft as shown in Figure 6. The speed control is governed by an idler pulley 42 mounted on a swinging lever 43 on the shaft 44, which also carries the crank 34. The idler pulley rides on the slack or loop of the incoming stock and as this loop is shortened it lifts the pulley 42 acting thereby to shift the friction wheel outwardly over the friction disc to slow down the movement of the measuring device carried by the main shaft. The reverse action takes place upon the 'loop increasing in size so that the machine speeded up to keep it in step with the supply of stock. The lost motion link serves to stop the mechanism upon stoppage of the supply of stock while a switch 45 is provided in connection with the pulley lever 43 to stop the motor when the slack has been taken up to the limiting amount desired to prevent undue tensioning of the stock.

The mainshaft carries a disc 46 on which is mounted a series of radially movable peripheral segments 47 bolted through radial slots 43. A second disc 73 with inclined or spiral slots 74 for pins 75 attached to the segments 47 serves to provide for simultaneous and equal adjustments of the segments, a curved rack 76 on the disc 73 meshing with a pinion 77 on a disc 78 secured to the disc 46, manual rotation of the pinion serving to shift the disc 73 relative to the disc 46 and thereby shift- The rack and pinion are desirable but not essential elements as they provide for more accurate and convenient adjustment of the size of the measuring segments.

One segment of the circle is replaced by a bracket 59 forming a shear blade over which slides a carriage 51 carrying a motor 52 drii ing a circular cutting knife 53 by means of the gearing 54. The motor is intermittently energized through the contact members 55 and contact block 56 as the measuring wheel revolves to bring the cutter into vertical position. The cutter carriage 51 is traversed over the shear .or bracket 50 by means of a grooved cam 57 fixed on the bracket 17 about the main shaft, a cam follower 58 on the disc engaging the cam and having rack teeth engaginga gear 59 attached to a larger gear 60 which acts on the carriage. I

Rubber and some other materials are more easily out if a lubricant is supplied to the cutting edge, so that a hopper 61 is secured to the cutter carriage and a stationary fount or inverted bottle 62 is mounted over the machine with a contact valve 63 adapt-ed to be opened by a tappet 64 carried by the carriage.

Each segment of the wheel is provided with a hinged presser foot 65 for holding the material thereagainst, the foot being hinged to the edge of the segment and operated by the lever 66 pivoted at 67 to the segment plate to be unaffected by the adjustment thereof. The inner end of the lever 66 carries a roller 68 engaging under a face cam 69 to depress that end of the lever and open the presser foot and engaging over another cam 70 to lift the roller to apply the presser foot. The two cams 69 and 7 0 are so arranged that the presser feet engage the material on the. segments only when on the upper part of the wheel, dropping free from the segments as they swing underneath during the revolution of the wheel to release the material.

A cam 71 is formed on the main shaft for operating a counting mechanism 72 for recording the revolutions of the wheel and hence the number of pieces cut.

The operation of the device is as follows: i

The perimeter of the measuring drum segments 47 including the edge of the shear bracket 50 is first adjusted to produce the desired tread length by shifting the second disc 73 by means of the rack 76 and pinion 77, the spiral slots 74 in the disc 73 moving the segments 47 in or out by means of the bolts or pins 75 sliding in the radial slots in the disc 46. Then the end of the material to be cut is initially engaged under one of the presser feet 65, which holds it against the corresponding segment 47 while the wheel as a whole rotates to draw the material onto the segments. As the wheel revolves clockwise, the material. is picked up by the shear bracket and overlies the same so that when the wheel reaches the position shown in Figure 1, the cutter traversing mechanism is actuated by means of the grooved cam 57, cam follower 5S actuating the carriage 51 by means of the gears 59 and 61, at the same time as the cutter motor 52 is energized b y the contact members 55 engaging in the Contact block 56.

As the wheel continues to rotate, the severed length of material is allowed to drop because of the withdrawal of the presser' foot of each segment 47 as it passes below the horizontal axis of the wheel as hereinbefore described. At the same time, more material is being drawn onto and wrapped upon the wheel by its rotation.

The speed of rotation is governed by the idler pulley 42 riding in the slack of the material, which is lifted if the wheel rotates faster than the stock or material is fed thereto. The lifting effect on the pulley is transmitted through the lever 4C3 through the crank 34 to the friction wheel shifting lever 35 to alter the position of the wheel 22 relative to the friction wheel 23, thus varying the driving speed of the gearing leading to the measuring wheel or main shaft 19. An extreme lift of the pulley also throws out the clutch 29 by the crank 34 engaging the lost motion slot in the linlr 32 operating the clutch lever 30.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide range without departing from the spirit of this invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:'

1. A stock measuring and cutting mechanism comprising a rotatingdrum, a traversing cutter mechanism mounted to rotate with the drum and to move across the outer periphery of the drum, and means for actuating the cutter mechanism at predetermined points in the revolution of the drum. 7

2. A stock measuring and cutting mechanism comprising a rotating drum, means for adjusting the perimeter of the drum to measure different len ths of stock, a traversing cutter mechanism mounted to rotate with the drum and means for actuating the cutter mechanism at predetermined points in the revolution of the drum.

A stock measuring and cutting mech anism comprising a rotating drum, fingers intermittently clamping the stock to said drum, means for operating said fingers at predetermined positions, cutter mechanism for cutting said stock on said drum, and means for actuating the cutter mechanism at predetermined points in the revolution of the drum.

4. A stock measuring and cutting mechanism comprising a rotating drum, a traversing cutter mechanism mounted to rotate with the drum, means for actuating the cutter mechanism at predetermined points in the revolution of the drum, means for adjusting the perimeter of the drum to measure different lengths of stock, fingers intermittently clamping the stock to said drum, and means to actuate said fingers at predetermined positions.

5. In a device of thecl-ass described a rotating drum, a cutter rotating therewith means for traversing the cutter acrossthe drum at predetermined intervals, lingers intermittently clamping the stock to said drum, and cams adapted to actuate said fingers at predetermined positions.

6. In a device of the class described a rotating drum, a cutter rotating therewith means for traversing the cutter across the drum at predetermined intervals, means for adjusting the perimeter of the drum to measure different lengths of stock, fingers intermittently clamping the stock to said drum, and cams adapted to actuate said fingers at predetermined positions.

7. In a device of the class described an adjustable diameter measuring drum, a rotary cutter and traversing mechanism therefor mounted in a fixed position on said drum,

and means for intermittently rotating said cutter during the traversing motion thereof.

8. In a device of the class described a measuring drum, a shear blade secured in fixed relation to said drum, a cutter and means for traversing said cutter over said shear blade at a predetermined position of the meas uring drum.

9. In a device of theclass described a measuring drum, a shear blade secured in fixed relation to said drum, a cutter, means for traversing said cutter over said shear blade at a predeterminedposition of the measuring drum, a motor for driving said cutter, and intermitten ly engageable contacts adapted to cause operation of said motor during the cutting period.

10. In a device of the class described a measuring drum, a. shear blade secured in fixed relation to said drum, a cutter, means for traversing said cutter over said shear blade at a predetermined position of the measuring drum, and means for supplying cutting fluid to said cutter only during the cutting period.

11. In a device of the class described a measuring drum, a shear blade secured in red relation to said drum, a cutter, means for traversing said cutter over said shear blade at a predetermined position 01 the measuring drum, a motor for driving said cutter, and electric contacts adapted to cause operation of said motor only during the cutting period, and means for supplying cutting fluid to said cutter during the cutting period.

12. In a device of the class described an adjustable perimeter wheel comprising radially movable segments, stock clamping arms mounted on said segments, and stationary cams adapted to apply and release said arms whereby the stock will hold on said wheel at predetermined points in the revolution thereof.

13. In a device of the class described an adjustable perimeter wheel comprising ra dially movable segment-s, stock clamping arms mounted on said segments, and stationary cams adapted to apply and release said arms, and means for severing said stock While clamped on said Wheel segments.

14. In a device of the class described, a drum arranged to receive a substantially continuous length of strip stock, and means for intermittently cutting the stock fed onto said drum into given len ths, said drum having an expansible rim arranged to be adjusted to vary the length of the strip cut by said cutting means.

15. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum arranged to receive a substantially continuous strip of stock material on its outer periphery, means for cutting the stock on said drum into given lengths, means for automatically varying the speed at which the drum is rotated in proportion to the rate at Which the strip stock is fed to the drum so as to enable the strips cut to all be substantially of the same length, and means for manually varying the circumference of said drum so as to vary the l ngth of the strips cut thereon.

16. In a device of the class described, a drum arranged to receive a substantially continuous length of strip stock, a cutter for cutting the stock on said drum into predetermined lengths, and means for reciprocating said cutter transversely across the outer periphery of the drum comprising a ram; operable by the rotation of said drum to intermittently reciprocate said cutter.

17. In a device of the class described, a drum arranged to receive a substantially continuous length of strip stock, a cutter for cutting the stock on said drum into predetermined lengths, and means for reciprocatingsaid cutter transversely across the periphery of the drum comprising a cam rotatable with said drum and a rack intermittently reciprocable by said cam for reciprocating said out ter.

18. In a device of the class described, a drum arranged to receive a substantiallycontinuous length of strip stock, a cutter for cutting the stock on said drum into predetermined lengths, means for reciprocating said cutter transversely across the periphery of said drum, means for rotating said cutter, and means operable and controlled by said rotating drum for intermittently operating said means for rotating the cutter.

19. In a device of the class described, a drum arranged to receive a substantially continuous length of strip stock, adjustable segments mounted on said drum and arranged to vary the length of stock which may be applied to the drum and means for intermittently cutting the stock on said drum.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ARNOLD R. KRAUSE.

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